News Releases

Town of Bristol, NH Wastewater Treatment Facility
Recognized Nationally for Excellence, along with the NHDES

(Boston—December 23, 2008) – EPA has recently selected the Town of Bristol, New Hampshire’s Wastewater Treatment Plant for a National First Place “Operations and Maintenance Excellence Award” in the Most Improved Plant category. The “Most Improved Plant” category recognizes extraordinary efforts by treatment plant personnel, local officials, and the on-site state operator trainer to return a facility to compliance under a technical assistance program authorized by the Clean Water Act.

The staff of the Bristol facility, led by Jeffrey Chartier, Superintendent, Jesse Lamos, Chief Operator, Joseph Sarto, Assistant Chief Operator, Joel Furmanick, Operator-in-Training, and Juanita Gilman, Office Manager, was recognized by EPA's National Water Program Office for exceptional work in operating and maintaining the plant. In addition, Paul Weston, Town Manager, Elizabeth Corrow, former Town Manager, and Burton Williams, the former Commissioner of the Water and Sewer Board, are also acknowledged for the Town’s outstanding support. The Operations Section (George Neill, Wesley Ripple, MaryJane Meier, and Marie Polichronopoulos) of the Wastewater Engineering Bureau for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) was instrumental in nominating this facility and has worked closely with the plant’s personnel by providing valuable on-site technical assistance and training over the years

“The professionals operating these wastewater treatment plants, as well as the municipalities and the state environmental agencies that support them, are key to keeping our environment healthy. We are proud that the Town of Bristol is receiving the credit it deserves, along with the NHDES,” said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England Office.

The EPA National Operations & Maintenance Excellence Award was established to recognize and honor the employees of publicly owned wastewater treatment plants for their commitment to improving water quality with outstanding plant operations and maintenance and on-going operator training. More often than not, conscientious operators and staff continue to perform exceptionally with limited resources.

The Bristol, NH facility was recognized on October 20th in Chicago, Illinois at the Water Environment Federation’s Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference. The staff and facility will also be acknowledged at the upcoming annual New England Water Environment Association’s Annual Conference and Exhibit on January 28th, 2009 during the Awards Luncheon at the Copley Place Marriott in Boston. The Bristol facility had received a 2007 Regional "Operations and Maintenance Wastewater Excellence Award" in the Most Improved Plant category, and following that accomplishment with winning a 2008 National First Place Award just reaffirms the outstanding team work and effort put forth by the Bristol Wastewater Treatment Plant staff.